Robinson and Gregan meet again

The British

& Irish Lions

Tour to New Zealand 2017

Robinson and Gregan meet again

The battle lines were drawn ahead of next year's tour to Australia when 2001 rivals Jason Robinson and George Gregan met in Hong Kong.

Gregan, the world's most capped player, followed up his World Cup triumph in 1999 with Australia's first Test series victory over the Lions two years later, despite Robinson's best efforts.

The England wing scored tries in the first and third Tests, but it still wasn't enough to stop the Wallabies from avenging their 1989 series defeat. The two great rivals - Robinson got his revenge when England beat Australia in the 2003 World Cup final in Sydney - met at a Lions function in Hong Kong this week ahead of the annual Sevens tournament.

The Lions will be breaking new ground ahead of next year's 125th anniversary trip to Australia by stopping off in Hong Kong to play the Barbarians at the Hong Kong Stadium on Saturday, 1 June.

Just over a year ahead of that great fixture the Lions hosted an exclusive cocktail reception for local rugby clubs and dignitaries to let them know about the arrangements for the Barbarians game and the anniversary tour.

The event was staged at the offices of principle sponsors, HSBC, and the picture above shows special guests George Gregan (far left) and Jason Robinson (far right) flanking Giles Morgan (Group Head of Sponsorship at HSBC) , Trevor Gregory (Chairman of the Hong Kong RFU) , Charlie McEwen (Director of sales and marketing with the British & Irish Lions) and Ian Edwards (British & Irish Lions).